New Delhi, November 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday underscored tax reforms of the past six years to say India has moved from tax terrorism to tax transparency.

Speaking at the inauguration of an office-cum-residential complex of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal at Cuttack, Modi highlighted the reduction in the corporate tax rate, simplified rate structure for individual taxpayers, faceless appeals and quick refunds. Also Read | Pune Witnesses Winter Chills As Mercury Dips to 11.3 Degrees Celsius, City Becomes Cooler Than Mahabaleshwar.

"Tax terrorism was a common refrain during past governments. The nation has left that behind and moved towards tax transparency," he said. "The change from tax terrorism to tax transparency has happened because we have propagated the concept of reform, perform and transform," he emphasised. Also Read | Manjhi Vidhan Sabha Seat Result in Bihar Assembly Elections 2020: CPIM’s Dr Satyendra Yadav Wins, Elected as MLA.

The Prime Minister further said not much happened post Independence to change the exploited and exploiter relation between the taxpayer and tax collector. But now change is happening, he said and went on to cite measures like faceless appeals, quick refunds and dispute resolution mechanism.

"We are reforming rules and procedures and using technology," he said, adding the tax administration is being transformed. India, he said, is among the select few nations which have codified rights and responsibilities of taxpayers. "This is an important step in restoring trust and transparency between taxpayer and tax collector."

Stating that wealth creators should be honoured, he said easing their problems will help in growth of the economy. Acceptance of as many as 99.75 per cent of the tax returns without a doubt is a step towards trusting the taxpayer, he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)